Improvement in transparent signs



J. G. JORY. Transparent Sign.

No. 218,750. Patented Aug. 19,1879.

FIG. I

. N-PEI'ERS, PHOTO-LIIHOGRA'PHER, wAsmNGTQN. D c.

UNITEDJSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN G. JORiY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRANSPARENT SIGNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,750, dated August 19, 1879; application filed June 12, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. JORY, of the cit-y of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Transparent Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of transparent signs which combines letters formed of either opaque material or wire-gauze and a suitable backing in such manner that the letters may be distin guished by the light showing through the wiregauze.

In carrying out my invention I take sheet metal and form therein the letters by cutting away the metal, and to the sheet metal thus prepared I affix a back of wire-gauze by soldering the gauze directly to the sheet metal and then finishing any of .the letters that may requiresuch as the letters A and 0--by solderin g to the gauze the separate parts necessary to complete the letter. I then cover the meshes of the wire-gauze with varnish or any similar material in a liquid state, which, when dry, will close the meshes and leave the same transparent. A color of any desired hue may be imparted to the saidliquid by previously adding thereto the necessary coloring-matter.

In making signs of this description it is necessary to finish the metal-cutting, such as forming the letter, and also to complete the soldering, previous to applying the colored mesh-closing liquid, as in this way only can be avoided the liability to mar the sign before its completion.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of an illuminated box-sign. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section. Fig. 3 is a 7 view of a sign suitable for show-windows. Fig.

4. is a view of a number suitable for attachment to transom-lights over street-doors. Fig. 5 is a section of same.

' The letter 00 represents the wire-gauze, having a mesh of any suitable size, covered with varnish or any other suitable material in a fluid state, which may contain any desired coloring-matter. This fluid material, having a color imparted to it,'may be applied over the. entire piece of gauze, as in the case illustrated in Fig. 3, or several colors may be employedas, for instance, in Fig. 1, the word Canton may be in green, the word Tea in red, and the word Company in blue, or these may be in any other colors desired.

b represents the letters, which, in Fig. 1, are cut out of the sheet metal 0, which, in this instance, forms one side of a box-sign designed to be illuminated at night.

Boxes of this description may have two or more sides illuminated, and the sides may be sheet metal, in which the letters are cut, or may be the covered wire-gauze, to which opaque l'etters are attached.

d represents the side edge, and e the top and bottom, of the box. f is a gas-jet or lamp.

The covered gauze is attached to the sheet metal 0 in any suitable manner, and, being transparent, will show light so that the cutaway letter will be readily distinguished.

It will be seen that the advantage of the wire-gauze covered with varnish or similar transparent material is, the meshes of the wire are closed, so as to exclude the air from passing through, but the transparency of the same is preserved, thus afl'ording the advantages of a glass sign without liability of breakage.

The sign shown in Fig. 3 is appropriate for the inside of show-windows. The letters are of opaque material, while the covered wire-gauze affords the desired transparency.

The number shown in Fig. 4 is suit-able for the transom over street-doors. The figures are opaque, and the rim g is metal or other suitable material. In this instance the figure is punched, so as to project from the front surface a burr-edged hole, which serves to retain a colored glass set, it.

I do not claim, broadly, wire-gauze the meshes whereof have been closed by an application thereto of some transparent liquid material, as I am aware that there has heretofore been made a transparent and flexible fabric composed of wire webbing coated with a transparent material formed of isiu glass, gumarabic, oxalic acid, and alcohol, and which after drying is varnished, and that the aforesaid fabric or material is applicable to many uses; but it is not adapted for use as and for the purpose herein set forth.

Haviii g described my invention, I claim and part, which backing is corriposedv of wire-gauze desire to secure by United States Letters Pathaving its meshes closed by an application of ent- Varnish or similar liquid material, as set forth. As a new article, a sign consisting of sheet JOHN G. J ORY.

metal or other opaque material in which the Witnesses:

letters are formed by cutting away, and a JNO. T. MADDOX,

backing secured thereto to cover the cut-away GEO. A. BOYDEN. 

